Vehicle-body



F. G. DAVIS.

'VEHICLE Bom. 'APPLICATION FILED JULY 51I9I8. 1,366,168, Patented Jan. 18,1921.

, 3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F. G. DAVIS.

VEHICLE BODYl APPLICATION FILED IULY 5| I9I8. v 1,366,168. I Patented Jan. 18,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

T TORNEY,

F. G. DAVIS.

VEHICLE BODY. APPLlcATloN Hummm/5,1918.

UNlrEDX STATES PATENr OFFICE. n

FRANCIS G. DAVIS, OF WATERTOWN, NEW YORK, .ASSIGNOR T H. H. BABGOCE COMPANY, 0F WATERTOWN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

VEHICLE-BODY.

specification or Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

Application filed July 5, 1918. Serial No. 243,400.

To aU whom it may concern:

Be it known that'l. FRANCIS G. DAVIS, a

' citizen of the United States of America, and

a Aresident of Watertown, in the county of Jefferson, in the State of New York, have a invented new and useful Improvements in Vehicle- Bodies, of which the following, taken in connection with thefaccompanying drawings, isa full, clear, and exact description. A

This invention relates to certain vimprovements in vehicle bodies for ambulances,

- buses and commercial vehicles Aof the motor driven type. involving the use of a bottom section, upright Side sectionsand a top section and suitable means, for fastening the ladjoining portions of the sections to each other.

The main object is to enable thesesections to be made up in quantitles as separate unlts or articles of manufacture, and to provide simple means whereby these sections may be assembled more expeditiously, economically and rigidly than has heretofore been practised, also to permit `those sections toibe easily and quickly taken apart and placed l'latwise one upon the other incompact relation so as to occupy a minimum space in` transportation or Stora e. i

@ne of the specifico jects is toassemble each of the Sidev sections and bottom section in such manner that each section will materially Stillen' the" other section against buckling or sagging and thereby greatly increase the rigidity of the joint by the use ofla relatively small number of connecting bo ts. u

Another object is yto permit the use of bodies (if substantially the full width'of the f standard wheel base with the floor or bottom sec-tion some 'distance below the level of the tops of the traction wheels, and to provide said body with suitable wheel housings withoutk in any Way weakening the bottom or side sections or reducing the rigidity of the connections between them.

Other .objects and uses .relating to Specie parts of the body will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings ze Figure l is a sideelevation of a bus body embodying certain features of my invention.

Flg. 2 is an enlarged side eleyation partly in section of one of the wheelhousings and adjoined portions of the body.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view of the housing taken on lines 8--3 Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a similar sectionallyiew taken on line 4--4 F ig.. 2.

taken in the plane line 5 5 Fig. 3

Fig. 6 is a perspective 4View of the assembled bottom, one side and end sections of the bus body shown in Fig. 1, the top sec tion being shown as detached. i

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of portions of the bottom section and one of the side sections of a body in which the posts are secured'to the inner faces of the panels. y

. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view Fig. 8 is an inner face view partly in sec-l v tion taken on line 8-8 Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is ay sectional view similar to Fig. T Showing a slightly modified form of side section in Lwhich the posts are vapplied to the outer face of the panels and secured by braces to the sills forming portions of .the side Sections.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation part-ly in sec- The body comprises a bottom section.

1, opposite upright side Section 2- and a top. Section 3. said sections being made up as Separate units and assembled in a manner hereinafter described to form the body which as Shown in Figs. 1 and 6 mayy be provided with .front and rear end Sections ,-7 and 7"- and opposite pairs `of diagonal sections 8 and 8'- between the. end sections -7 and7 and corresponding ends of the side sections 2.

It is obvious, however, that the end sections -7- andv 7 and diagonal sections 8- and 8-'- may, in many instances, be

dispensed with andthe invention is therefore directed more particularly to the combination of. the bottom section, side sections and .top section, and to the specific means Vof connecting andl bracing those sections at theirjunctions orie to the other, and to the construction of the wheel-housings which p Fig. 4 the ends of the cross bars terminate at lthe corresponding longitudinal edges of the 25 f1 oor.

When the several sections are assembled the lower portions of the side sections 2 abut against the adjacent longitudinal edges of the bottom sectionnand are provided with horizontally projecting fianges 11 and 12 en` gaging respectively the lower and upperI 1 faces of the adjacent portions of the bottom -section to which they are fastened by clamping bolts 13 passing through registering apertures in said angesand bottom section for firmly holding the bottom and side sections in fixed relation and permitting them to be separated by simply `removing the bolts. 'Y Y Y Each side section preferably consists of a series of upright posts 14 in spaced relation lengthwise of the body and a panel 15 suity( flanges 11 and ably secured to. said posts together` 'with suitable ,metal reinforcing .members as an angle 'iron' 16 and braces 17 of which the 12 are Arespectively integral parts.

Each angle iron 16 extends the entire length of its side section 2, one of its flanges as 11 extending lfnder theadjoining portion of the bottom section 1 aspreviously ex- 'plained while the other flange extends verticallyagainst the outer face of the panel bracing said section against outward vibra- 15 or postsv 14 of the corresponding side section and some distance'above the upper face of the bottom section for more effectively tion.

The braces -lwhen secured to the inner faces of the posts' as in Figs. 6, 7 8, 9 and 11, are preferably arranged in spaced relation lengthwise of the body corresponding to thepfspac'ings of the posts-14- to which they are secured directly or indirectly according to the relative positions of the posts and panel of each side section.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, and 7,

8 and 11 the panels 15 of the side sections are secured to the outer faces of the upright posts -14-, while in Figs. 9 and 10 they are secured to the inner faces of the posts in which latter case the posts are secured by flanged braces -18- and bolts -19- to underlying lengthwise sills 20- forming parts of the corresponding side sections. As shown more clearly in Figs. 2, 3, 4. and 6, the bottom -1- extends under the lower ends of the posts, while the panels which are secured to the outer faces of the posts extend across and abut against \the adjacent edges of the bottom, in which case each post is providedl with a pair of braces -17- secured to the front and rear faces thereof with their flanges -12- extending lengthwise of the angle iron and secured to the lower horiontal flanges -11- thereof by the bolts13-, which pass through the bottom -1- in such manner as to cause the upright flange ofthe angle iron to hold the ,adjacent portion of the panel or side section -2- firmly against the Yadjacent edge of the bottom, whereby the angle iron, braces and bolt establish a rigid connection between the sides and bottom and peimit said sides and bottom to be readily separated by simplyremoving the bolts 1S- If desired the upper ends of the braces -17- on the inner sides of the posts (Figs. 1 andll) may be returned inwardly over the flanges l2- and connected thereto. by a suitable web as shown in Figs. 1 and 11 to form supports for seats as -21- shown by dotted lines in said figures, said braces being then preferably formed from a single piece of relatively light sheet metal so that the bottom, top and side flanges thereof may be integra-l with the web portion.

-In order that the 'body may be made th full width of the wheel base and still be able to bring the entire bottom section some distance lbelow the top of the wheels it isL necessaryto provide the body with suitable wheel-*housings and to this end the opposite longitudinal edges of the bot-tom section'ire provided with transversely alined recesses -22- which in turn are registered with upwardly arched recesses 423- in the adjacent .portions of the side sections 2, Fig. 3, the length of the' recesses -22- being substantially equal to that of the chords of the arched recesses.23-.

Portions of the angle-irons 16- running along the'lower edges of the side sec- 'f tions -2- are also arched upwardly to con- `form to the arched recesses -23- to receive and support the outer edges of inwardly projecting arched plates -24- which together with fianged braces -17-- are serecense recesses -23-'Figs. 3 and 5 and lto receive and reinforce the inner edges of the arched ,plates -24- and also the upper edges of upright arched inner plates -26- which form the inner Walls of the wheel-housings and are substantially co-extensive with the arched recesses -23f-.

The arched members 2l, Q5 and 26of 'the wheel-housings may be permanently secured to the bottom section, in -which case the side sections -2- including the flanged members 11 and 12- of the angle-irons -v16- and braces -18- may be detached from the bottom section 1 bysimply removing In the construction of the body shown from-l to 6- inclusive, the posts Mwof the .side sections 2 lare arranged so that -2- of them will be disposed in close proie` imity to the ends of the wheel-housings while the intermediate posts, which are necessarily shorter than the others, will be disposed directly over the 'centers of said wheelhousing as shown more clearly at Figs. 2, 3 and It will also be observed that the seat supporting braces or brackets ---17 and wheelhousings rise substantially equal distances .f from and above the upper faces ofl the bottomsection f---l-v so that the seats as 2l- Figs. 6 and ll may be practically continuous along the side sections -2-, the transversed, width of the brackets and wheelhousings being also substantiallyv equal, and f therefore the wheel-housings will be nearly i concealed by the seats when the various sections ot the body are assembled for use.

rThe upper ends" of these posts 14 :extend short distances above? the upper edges of the panels ,-15- for receiving and supporting the top section -3- which is pro` vided with a de ending `marginal flange Q7- fitted close y against the outer faces ot the upper end of extensions 414'- of the posts and adapted to be secured thereto by bolts 2S-- as shown more'clearly in Fig. l2, thus permittingthe top section to be removed by simply removing the bolts.

The end sections -7 and 7'- and also thel diagonally disposed sections -8 and` 8'- are also made up as separate units and may be secured to the bot-tom and-top sections in a manner similar to that previously described angle-iron #-16- and beneath kthe marginal rail or Flange --2- ot' the top section -3-. The wheel-housing consisting of the arched plates s24, 2G and the arched separate units so that in shipping or storing they may be detached from the sides and bottom sections by removinor the bolts d3-l, andscrews as -13- Fig. 5, the seat supporting brackets' being also removed so that the side sect-ions and also the end section, if used. together with the top section may be laid topwise, one upon the other, in compact space,` and the wheel-housing and seat supporting brackets similarly arranged in compact space wit-h the lremaining sections of the body.

When it is desired to assemble the side sections of the several body side sections lthe wheel-housings may be secured in place upon the bottom section after which the 'side sections are secured in place to thebottom section and wheelhousings by the bolts --13- `whereupon the top section 3 may be similarly secured to the upper ends of the posts *1l-.F by the bolts -28- whereupon the scat supporting brackets -`17- may be placed in operative position ready to receive the seats -21.

'hat l claim is:

l. In a vehicle body, the combination of a bottom section having a flooring and cross bars extending under and beyond the outer edges ot the flooring,v metal reinforcing plates seated against the undeisides ot the cross bars and projecting outwardly beyond the ends thereot'` and opposite upright side sections abutting against the adjacent outer edges of the ooring` and cross-bars and resting in part on the outwardly projecting portions ot said plates, and devices for rigidly lholding the side sections and plates fin assembled relation.

2. In a vehicle body` the combination of a bottom section consisting of a floor and cross bars extending under and beyond the outer edges of the floor,` metal reinforcing plates seated against the undersides of the cross-V bars and projecting. outwardly beyond the edges thereof, and opposite upright side sections resting partly'on the outer ends of the said plates having upstanding flanges en-` gagingthe outer faces of the side sections.

ilo

' r 'fr 3. Ina vehicle body, the combination of a bottom section consisting of a floor and cross bars extending across the under side of and beyond the floor, opposite side sections each having its lower portion provided with inwardly. projecting flanges in vertically spaced relation engaging respectively the lower side of the cross bars and the upper side of the floor and bolted through' the floor and cross bars.

. el. In a lvehicle body, the combination of a bottom section having a floor and underlying dcross bars projecting beyond the floor, op-

'posite side sections each having its lower "portion thereof, plates secured to and projecting beyond the ends of the cross bars,v

opposite side sections each having VAaportion thereof, abutting against the adjacent edge of themain portion of the bottom and resting on the upper faces of the underlying projections of the cross bars, other portions of the side sections abutting against the adjacent ends of said cross bars, and means for clamping the bottom section and side sections in their assembled relation.

6. In a vehicle body, the combination of a bottom section, having cross bars projecting beyond the opposite edges of the main port-ionl thereof, opposite side sections each having a portion thereof abuttingagainstl the adjacentedge ofthe main portion of'th bottom and resting on the upper faces of the underlying projections of the cross bars, other portions of the side sections abutting againstthev adjacentl ends of said cross bars, and metallbraces secured to the side sections and adjacent portions of the bottom section.

7. In a vehicle body, the combination of a y bottom section,having:ross bars projecting beyond the opposite edges of the main portion thereof, opposite side sections each having a portion thereof abutting against the adjacent edge of the main portion of the bottom and resting on the upper faces of the underlying projections of the cross bars, other portions of theside sections abutting against the adjacent ends of said cross bars, and angle plates bolted to the bottom section and engaging the outer side faces of the adjacent portions of theside sections.

8. In a vehicle body, the combination ofa bottom 'section having underlying cross bars, angle ironsapplied'to the underside of opposite ends of' said cross bars and having portions thereof projecting upwardly in spaced relation to said ends,`opposite side sections having portions thereof interposed between the ends of the cross bars and the adjacent upwardly projecting portions of the angle irons, braces secured to the side sections, and clamping bolts connecting the braces to the portions of the angle lrons which underlie the cross bars.

9. In a vehicle body, the combination of a bottom section having wheel openings in the outer edges thereof, opposite upright side sect-ions abutting against the opposite longitudinal edges of the bottom section at the front and at the rear of said openings and provided with inturned flanges enga 'ng sol respectively the lower and upper faces o the bottom section, and bolted thereto, said side sections being provided with upwardly arched recesses registering with the openings in the opposite edges of the bottom section.

10. In a vehicle body the combination of a bottom section constituting a platform having wheel openings in opposite lengthwise edges thereof, opposite uprightv side 'sections having vertically arched rcesses registering with saidopenings, said side sections having their lowerM edges abutting against the adjacent edges of the bottom section at the front and rear of said openings, angle irons extending'along the lower longitudinal edges of the side sections and under the adj acent portions of the bottom sections, said angle irons beingarched upwardly along the lower edges of the recesses, and braces secured to the sidesections and provided with inturned flanges engaging the upper face of the bottom section and bolted to the underlying portions of the angle irons through the adjacent portions of the bottom section.

11. In a vehicle body, a bottom or platform sectin having recesses inits opposite lengthwise edges for receiving the wheels of the vehicle, side sections abutting against said edges and provided with upwardly arched recesses registering with the first named recesses, arched angle irons secured to the walls of the second named recesses, arched plates secured to and projecting inwardly, from said angle irons, and additional arched angle irons secured to the inner edges of the arched plates and to ythe bottom or platform section.

12. In a vehicle body, the combination of a bottom section having wheel openings in its opposite longitudinal edges, opposite upright side sections having upwardly arched recesses registering with said openings,'said side sections having their lower edges abutting against. the ad'acent edges of the bottom section at the front and at the rear of said openings and provided with iuturned flanges bolted to the bottom and top faces of the bottom section, whereby the side sections may be removed from the bottom section by removing said bolts, and a top section clamped to the upper edges of the side sections;

13. In a vehicle body the combination of a 5 bottom section having wheel openings in the opposite edges thereof, opposite upright side sections having vertically arched recesses registering with said openings and provided With inturned flanges engaging the lower and 10 upper faces of the bottom section at the front and at the rear of said Openings, and means for clamping said flanges to the bottom section.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of July, 1918.

. FRANCIS G. DAVIS.

Titnesses CoRA B. CRANDALL,

DEWEY H. HURD. 

